Mercury Prize 2022 with Free Now: Album of the Year

Lauren Laverne hosts live coverage of this year's Mercury Prize Album of the Year from the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London.

2022's eclectic shortlist, which was announced live on BBC Radio 6 Music in July, is a reflection of the UK and Ireland's rich musical landscape over the last 12 months. All the shortlisted albums will be reflected through live performance, building to the announcement of this year's winner as selected by the judges, a panel of music experts from broadcasters to industry heavyweights and artists including Anna Calvi, Loyle Carner and Annie Macmanus.

This year's 12 shortlisted albums are:

Fergus McCreadie's Forest Floor, the third album from the acclaimed Scottish pianist and composer, whose unique blend of jazz and Scottish folk have earned him his first place on the Mercury shortlist.

Welsh native Gwenno also receives a first nod with Tresor, a deeply personal offering exploring the impact of motherhood on the psyche and written almost entirely in Cornish.

Global pop phenomenon Harry Styles, who since launching a solo career in 2017, makes the list with his huge No 1 record Harry's House.

Academy Award-nominated actress and singer Jessie Buckley and previous Mercury Prize winner Bernard Butler, who have teamed up for a unique collection of mesmerising songs entitled For All Our Days That Tear the Heart.

Proud south Londoner Joy Crookes, who released her debut album Skin in 2021. She used the project to traverse familial love, generational trauma, breakups and politics, while paying homage to those who taught her valuable lessons about each of these topics.

Another proud Londoner, rapper Kojey Radical, released his long-awaited debut Reason to Smile in March, which has been dubbed an era-defining Black British work. It features contributions from the likes of Kelis, Wretch 32 and his own mother.

Little Simz returns to the Mercury shortlist for a second time with Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, the rapper's fourth and most personal offering yet. It covers complex themes of race, womanhood, gang violence, loss, childhood and trauma throughout the album.

Heavy alternative rock renegades Amy Love and Georgia South aka Nova Twins, who blurred punk, rap, pop, hard rock and beyond to create Supernova' their second album.

Continuing the theme of sophomore albums, North Shields's Sam Fender released Seventeen Going Under in 2021, his second to hit No 1 and what he claims to be his ‘coming-of-age story.

Rebecca Lucy Taylor aka Self Esteem, who has fast become the unapologetic pop star she always wanted to be, makes the list with Prioritise Pleasure, an album that outlines the absurd contradictions of modern womanhood.

Isle of Wight duo Wet Leg rose to prominence last year with their viral single Chaise Longue before their eponymous debut album, which has been described as ‘sad music for party people', hit the top of the charts in April.

Completing the 12 is Leeds outfit Yard Act, whose culturally astute record The Overload ties together observations from all walks of modern British life with satirical spoken-word humour.